Byrnes to Introduce Resolution Requesting Governor to Petition President Obama to Keep Fort Monmouth Open

Monmouth County Freeholder Candidate Sean Byrnes will be introducing a resolution to the Middletown Township Committee Monday night that would request Governor Jon Corzine to petition President Barack Obama to keep Fort Monmouth open and maintain its facilities for the support of service members and their families.

Democrat Byrnes, sits on the Middletown Township Committee and thinks that this is a "No-Brainer" and that the resolution should be passed with little to no opposition, in time to be presented to President Obama Wednesday at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he will be campaigning for Governor Jon Corzine.

Below is the text of the resoloution to be introduced Monday night:

TOWNSHIP OF MIDDLETOWN

COUNTY OF MONMOUTH

RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO PETITION

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO KEEP FORT

MONMOUTH OPEN AND FACILITIES FOR THE

SUPPORT OF SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

WHEREAS, the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission

decided in to close Fort Monmouth to move the functions and personnel to Army facilities in Maryland and Ohio; and

WHEREAS, the Inspector General for the Army has recently completed an investigation into the decision-making involved in the decision

to close Fort Monmouth; and

WHEREAS, Fort Monmouth has been the home to the U.S. Army Material Command and Army Acquisition Executive that researches andmanages Command and Control, Communications, Computing, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capabilities; and

WHEREAS, Fort Monmouth has provided valuable support and services to active duty, National Guard, reserve and retired members of all branches of our country's military sen-ices; and

WHEREAS, these services are provided through a system of appropriated funds under which the purchases and fees paid by service members pay the costs associated the operations of these facilities; and

WHEREAS, thousands of these service members and retired service members continue to rely upon the commissary for the purchase of food products and the exchange for purchases of retail products, as well as the golf course and marina; and

WHEREAS, we continue to advocate for and favor a reversal of the-decision the and

WHEREAS, we join in the growing chorus of voices, including those of Senators Menendez and Lautenberg, Congressmen Smith and Holt, demanding a reconsideration of the decision to close Fort Monmouth in light of recent revelations suggesting that the true costs of the closure and move will dramatically exceed earlier estimates; and

WHEREAS, the Township Committee believes strongly that in the event of the closure of Fort Monmouth that certain functions of the base that provide benefits and services, such as the base exchange, commissary and golf course, be preserved so that these benefits and may be maintained,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Township Committee of the Township of Middletown in the County of Monmouth, State of Jersey that the Township of does hereby urge the Governor of the State of New Jersey to petition the President of the United States to reconsider the decision to close Fort Monmouth.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Township Committee does hereby recommend that in the event that the closure of Fort Monmouth does those facilities and buildings that provide exchange services,commissary privileges, morale and welfare support and other important

benefits to our service members and their families be and sustained.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Township Clerk forward a certitied true copy of this resolution to the Office of the Governor.